Some Companies Still Don't Think Social Media Has Place In The Office

Heather
R. Huhman is a career expert, experienced hiring
manager, and founder & president of Come Recommended,
a content marketing consultancy for organizations with
products that target job seekers and/or employers.

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Does social media have a place in the office? Some companies
don’t think so. According to a research report by Clearswift, a software
security firm, 19 percent of companies are blocking employee
access to social media sites at work, up 10 percent from last
year.

The authors state that Internet browsing is an important
restorative function for workers, and when allowed to surf the
web during the day, can actually increase their productivity.

Social media use at work is no longer limited to only
young professionals or members of Gen Y. In actuality,
social media users come from all age groups. According to the
Pew Internet Project, the average age of adult
social networking site users has shifted from 33 in 2008 to 38 in
2010, and over half of all adult users are now over the age of
35.

How much is too much when it comes to surfing social
media at work? This may vary by company or country, but
moderation is key. A recent survey by GSN Digital
touched on the matter, stating that 80 percent of respondents who
said they visit online gaming sites throughout the day “feel more
focused on work as a result of periodic mental breaks associated
with game play” – and 59 percent of them said they visit such
sites for less than 30 minutes per day.

Everyone needs a mental break at some point during his or her
workday. Workers who enjoy using break times to check social
media profiles and share content should certainly be allowed to
do so. However, it obviously absolutely should not affect their
productivity in a negative way.

While some organizations may want to restrict access to social
media sites at work, doing so could be a hindrance to employees’
productivity. Additionally, it may just cause workers to check
social media on other devices, such as smartphones.

What do you think? Do you think social media has its place in
the office? Do you have any specific real-world examples to
share?